Page 27 of The Exiled Dragon

“You know,” she whispered. “I think you saved me twice.” The pink blush covered her face. My lips smashed into hers before she could think. One hand dug into her hair, and the other pulled her to straddle my waist. I did not care if she felt my desire for her any longer. She permitted me to kiss her, and I would kiss her as proper mates do. Just like my mother with her mate.

Pulling back reluctantly, giving her air, her heavy eyelids opened. “Oh,” she breathed. “That was…” I didn’t let her finish. My lips massaged hers; my teeth pulled at her lip, sucking it gently. Everything was gentle with my fawn. I would never hurt her. I would protect her, love her until the day my Dragon ceased to exist.

Her tongue traced my bottom lip, her own hands cradling my face, rubbing my neck and shoulders. Fire burned just as I had felt with my Dragon. Her tongue touched the tip of mine. I pushed forward, meeting with the same gentleness as she gave me.

It was magnificent. How could mates feel something so much stronger? My Dragon continued to hum a song in my chest. Pulling away, again releasing our lips, my forehead rubbed with hers. Odessa hummed contentedly, now putting her head in the crook of my neck. My thumb thrummed over her cheek. Kissing her forehead longingly, adoringly, my Dragon forced through my human mouth.

“Mine.”

Chapter Nineteen

Duke Mortus

Three days prior.

“Whereishe?”Itapped my black fingernail against the edge of my wooden chair. The padding had almost worn down to the wood. Two female servants stared at me with their beady red eyes wearing the sluttiest maid uniforms I had ever seen.

I turned my nose up as they kneeled before me in my study. The books were worn, smelling of old leather and the mothballs that sat behind the bookshelves. They contained documents ranging from Vampire history back thousands of years to the recent events of humans being allowed into the Bergarian world. I was the Duke of the House Morealus, fifteen times greater, of one of the first original Vampires in existence. Morealus was his name, and I took that name with pride. It was who was to carry on his bloodline.

My head leaned back, sighing with disgust. Their breasts heaved, fluttering; death was their calling, and I was just about to give it. “Answer my question,” I whispered, knowing damn well they heard me. I stared up at the ceiling of the old study. Paintings of Vampires ripping heads off of humans stuck above me. The painting was done centuries ago, if not thousands, and preserved to its exactness how it is said we fed. Our techniques have changed, using our fangs more than our mouths to sink into flesh. How unfortunate to damage the skin so. I licked my lips, remembering how smooth Odessa’s skin was to me. To think at one time, a claw would have opened her up like a gutted fish sent unpleasant shudders down my spine.

Reusable blood bags were our ways to recycle. We were doing our part, not taking more than we needed. Vampires don’t nearly play with our food like that of our ancestors. We do not waste, at least, I like to think that we don’t. Sometimes I find the few Vampires like to take too much; they are dealt with case by case.

“My Lord, Master Enoch went out just last night. He took your carriage to a pub and sent it back immediately because he said he would be late looking for Odessa.” The female servant waved her hand. Was she having an aneurysm, or was she trying to get my attention? Pinching my nose, my eyebrows automatically raise high on my head.

“Find him,” I growled within my throat. The demon inside me, the madness I had at the moment, was about to unleash. I was a kind duke, not as bad as the other families of Donnahue, Lurane, Pathos, and Sufan. My servants had the best quality of life and clothes, and they happily served me. Most of the women came from other, lower nobles and hoped my eye would glance upon them, but to no avail. They did not please me. None of them pleased me. As my mother said, I was a ‘picky little shit.’

I would run off with some damn dark Fairy if I wanted some fun. I had a taste for the dainty skin, the fluttering wings, and sharp features. Most of all, I liked how small they could get. Few would think of it, but the smaller they are, the tighter they are. Chuckling, hearing my rings hit the arm of my chair, I fiddled with the wood as the servant stood up.

“I can look for him again, but the guards say he never came to the front gate.” Rolling my eyes, I waved my hand. They both graciously bowed, their breasts spilling over the top of their dresses as they left.

“Ladies,” I purred. Standing up, I put my hands behind my back, walking closer to them. They both straightened up as I neared. Unfortunately, I couldn’t hear their pulses because they dared not beat until they found their mates. My face came between the two. Pretending to breathe just a bit, I whispered. “If you do not put your maid outfits up to code, you will be escorted back to your respective houses, is that clear?” Both nodded fervently, not breathing a word. “Leave.”

Sending those two Vampire demons back would be best, yet I don’t want to deal with the poorer nobles whining.

Enoch had been missing. He had not returned to me this morning like he was supposed to, giving me word if anyone had seen my pretty little dove. He had been working overtime, overseeing the search for my favorite.

Odessa.

She was certainly a different breed. She wasn’t the smallest human girl I had ever met, a good average height. Her body was slim, perfectly proportioned and her skin, gods, her skin was perfect. The only marks on her body were that of my own. Before I met her, my teeth tore into any marks left by previous feedings, not wanting anyone’s mark on her delectable body.

Not to mention the alluring scent she projected. It was sweet, citrus-like, with a hint of lavender. The oddest combination but thinking about it made my fangs water. It was in her blood, roaring through her carotid artery. Her heartbeat faster when she heard the clicking of my leather shoes down the hallway when I met her daily. I would like to think it was for me, that her heart raced in excitement for me to pierce her savory skin.

But it was fear.

Her rounded face and pouty lips carried me when I saw her. She waited in the feeding room, my feeding room, which was filled with exquisite pillows and couches. I liked to be comfortable; it makes the blood run smoothly. Many humans liked the room, often requesting to sit in the largely upholstered room.

I scoffed at the idea. I didn’t feed on the same blood bag twice.

That is, until her.

Odessa was different. Obviously, she had never seen a Vampire before, nor been from this world. Enoch spoke that her mother had to pay a debt back to the estate, and this was her repayment, her firstborn. Blood Bags were scarce, especially now that some lost princess had been found. Her gifts were said to bring balance to the kingdoms.

Then again, who believes in such rumors? She opened up the magical barriers for humans to come through. I should send her a gift, thank her for allowing such treats to enter this world again so that Vampires could feed off of what we were supposed to all along.

Drinking nothing but animal blood or donations from different supernaturals was exhausting. No one wanted to help the poor Vampires, too scared we would take advantage. Look where that got us, drinking nothing but deer, bear, elk, and other random creatures. Now that we have forced new members into the Vampire Council, we have been able to retrieve better sources of food. Now we had gone too far, forcing our fangs in blood bags.

Being an unmated Vampire has been difficult. I only wished to help stabilize the kingdom, bring Vampires from depression, and let them feed to be full. Animal blood doesn’t make you feel full, merely barely satisfied. Bitter. We were all bitter about not having our stomachs full. We were taking it out on the humans because we couldn’t take it out on anyone else. Would they even donate their blood to help us? Most likely not, because no one else showed initiative either.

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